About

PictureThis is an experiment to try and foster active storytelling and democratizing  photography as an art in an inclusive, community-driven way. More simply, we want everyone to feel included in creating as well as appreciating good photographs. 

Entire books have been written about art and society and all the different aspects around it. And while starting this, the idea seemed clear on what we wanted to be, but as I write this down, that sense of a "manifesto" is no longer there. So, above all - it's a work-in-progress to share stories. 

Some earlier thoughts were around how the world of art still feels out of bounds - largely by perceptions - to large sections of people. Primarily because of conscious or sub-conscious 

    • Gate-keeping by people: Definition of artists excludes a wide section of community

    • Gate-keeping by ideas: “Art” has been interpreted differently and continues to evolve but still feels exclusionary

    • Gate-keeping by spaces: Expectations on where art can be. Such as galleries. Or Museums. Or permanent platforms. 

We feel there’s a need to enable a wider set of community help create and appreciate art in non-institutional, civic spaces to make it more inclusive and less imposing. 

We aim to reduce this gate-keeping through 

    • community-driven nature - reducing gate-keeping by people

    • showcasing diverse narratives - reducing gate-keeping by biases and ideas on what can be art

    • showcasing art in non-gallery spaces - reducing gate-keeping by place 

And we aim to do it out there in the physical world. In civic-spaces accessible to all. Without the baggage associated with a "gallery". Without the competitive pressure of passing the curation test. Or being bound by the the tyranny of algorithms and social media validation.  No filters of preconceived notions for art. Or artists. Just stories and vignettes. 

I'd love to see your stories. Or hear your views. Always happy to have a conversation over coffee.